The House of the Vettii Art and Architecture of Pompeii and Herculaneum

Extra Information Dates from around 1 st century BC 1 100m squared in area and occupies less than 1/3 of insula Limited axial symmetry; south ala was walled off (storeroom?) Peristylium set at 90 degrees to entrance axis Secluded area on eastern side containing one large and two smaller rooms, may have been used as women’s quarters; however evidence for this not strong

Extra Information Belonged to Aulus Vettius Conviva and Aulus Vettius Restitutus (from graffittii) – freedmen Graffittii says Vettius was an Augustalis (priesthood open only to freedmen) No tablinum in house – no need for study to receive clients as a freedman could not hold political office – could not be a patronus Probably became wealthy by making wine (hence painting referring to Dionysus…?) Lots of cupids w grapes, some making wine

Entry - Priapus

Atrium

Atrium - Cupids

Lararium

Pentheus Room

Pentheus Room - Heracles Hera takes revenge on Zeus for his unfaithfulness by sending two snakes to kill his son by Alcmene, the infant Hercules. Hercules, however, strangles both snakes. His terrified mother and mortal father (Amphitryon) look on, while Zeus’ eagle also watches. Zeus disguised himself as Amphitryon to sleep with the beautiful but virtuous Alcmene.

Dirke The wife of King Lycus. To fulfill his oath to his brother Nycteus, king of Thebes, to get his daughter Antiope back, Lycus and his army marched towards Sicyon, destroyed the city and killed Antiope's husband Epopeus. Lycus put Antiope in his wife's care, but Dirce mistreated Antiope severely, using her as a slave. Antiope managed to escape and was finally reunited with her sons Amphion and Zethus, her children with Zeus. Her twins exacted a terrible vengeance upon Dirce. They tied her to the horns of a wild bull and in that fashion she was killed.LycusNycteus Antiope AmphionZethusZeus

Pentheus Room

Ixion Room

Daedalus presents the wooden cow to Pasiphae Minos was challenged as king and prayed to Poseidon for help. Poseidon sent a giant white bull out of the sea. Minos planned on sacrificing the bull to Poseidon, but then decided not to. He substituted a different bull. In rage, Poseidon cursed Pasiphae, Minos' wife, with zoophilia. Daedalus built her a wooden cow, which she hid inside. The bull mated with the wooden cow and Pasiphae was impregnated by the bull, giving birth to a horrible monster, the Minotaur. Daedalus then built a complicated maze called the Labyrinth and Minos put the Minotaur in it. To make sure no one would ever know the secret of the Labyrinth, Minos imprisoned Daedalus and his son, Icarus, in a tower. PoseidonzoophiliamazeLabyrinthIcarus Daedalus and Icarus flew away on wings Daedalus invented, but Icarus' wings melted because he flew too close to the sun. Icarus fell in the sea and drowned.

The Punishment of Ixion Ixion tried to take revenge upon Zeus, by seducing Hera. When Zeus learned of Ixion's plan, Zeus fashioned a cloud to look like his wife and consort. Most authors say that the cloud or false Hera was named Nephele. When the unsuspecting Ixion boasted of having slept with Hera, Zeus sent him to Tartarus where he was to suffer from eternal punishment. Ixion was chained to a fiery wheel, which revolved around from ceaseless wind.

Ariadne and Bacchus

Culina

Peristylium

Peristylium Walkway

Garden

Triclinium with cupids